Christine Taylor Recalls Her Role in ‘The Brady Bunch Movie’ and Hollywood’s Demands
Christine Taylor achieved a milestone in her career by landing the role of Marcia Brady in “The Brady Bunch Movie.” However, this opportunity came with compromises typical in Hollywood at the time. On the “Office Ladies” podcast, she recounted the uncomfortable request that accompanied her casting, revealing she was “embarrassed” but accepted it because such demands were common.
Taylor’s fascination with Marcia Brady began years earlier, having watched every episode of “The Brady Bunch”. Her passion led her to perform in “The Real Live Brady Bunch”, a live show, which then opened the doors to her movie role.
In a surprising turn, Sherwood Schwartz, the show’s creator, reached out to Taylor directly. He left her a message, offering to meet with her, an unexpected gesture in Hollywood. This call left Taylor amazed, although she regrets not preserving the message.
Despite the shock, Taylor felt confident about her suitability for Marcia’s role, sure that there was no better choice. Her casting experience was unusually smooth, requiring no further auditions after initial readings with other actors destined to play her siblings.
“I knew it in my core that there was nobody who could do it better than me,” Taylor remembered.
However, the role came with a condition illustrative of the industry’s expectations during the 90s era. Taylor was asked to lose 10 pounds, a common requirement then despite her already slim figure.
While acknowledging the norm of weight demands at that time, Taylor noted the practice would be unacceptable today. She complied with the request, despite feeling awkward. As filming progressed, her weight fluctuated during reshoots, evident in scenes where her appearance varied.
“…It was a very different time in the industry…” Taylor explained.
Despite these demands, Taylor embraced her time on set. Post scenes, she indulged in frozen yogurt, enjoying the popular snack of the era as a reward for her efforts.
“But no, over the course of the movie, I really started to treat myself,” Taylor explained.